子敬有恩于玄德，其言必从；且玄德既为东吴之婿，亦义不容辞。
They are good friends, and Liu Bei will certainly respond favorably.
Beside, since Liu Bei and our lord are now connected by marriage, there is no risk of refusal.
张昭曰：“可差人往鲁子敬处，教急发书到荆州，使玄德同力拒曹。
At the council Zhang Zhao said, "Let us send to Lu Su to tell him to write at once to Liu Bei that he may help us.
若玄德来相助，江南可无患矣。”
With the support of Liu Bei, there is no danger to our country."
肃领命，随即修书使人送玄德。
Accordingly, on receipt of this command, a letter was written to Liu Bei, who after reading it, retained the messenger at the guest-house till Zhuge Liang could arrive from Nanjun.
玄德看了书中之意，留使者于馆舍，差人往南郡请孔明。
Accordingly, on receipt of this command, a letter was written to Liu Bei, who after reading it, retained the messenger at the guest-house till Zhuge Liang could arrive from Nanjun.
孔明到荆州，玄德将鲁肃书与孔明看毕，孔明曰：“也不消动江南之兵，也不必动荆州之兵，自使曹操不敢正觑东南。”
As soon as he arrived, Liu Bei showed him the letter.
The adviser said, "It is not necessary for the South Land's troops to move, nor need we send ours.
I can prevent Cao Cao from even daring to look in the southeast direction."
若但有北兵侵犯，皇叔自有退兵之策。”
for if the northern army approach, they will be forced backward at once."
使者去了。
The letter was given to the messenger,
玄德问曰：“今操起三十万大军，会合淝之众，一拥而来，先生有何妙计，可以退之？”
and then Liu Bei asked his adviser, "How could the Instructor hope to roll back the huge army of three hundred thousand troops that Cao Cao is preparing to bring south?”
今操杀马腾，其子马超现统西凉之众，必切齿操贼。
Now just lately he has slain Ma Teng and his sons as well, and the people of Xiliang are grinding their teeth with rage.
主公可作一书，往结马超，使超兴兵入关，则操又何暇下江南乎？”
Now you must write and ask Ma Chao to march through the pass, and Cao Cao will have no leisure to think of any expedition to the south."
子敬有恩于玄德，其言必从；且玄德既为东吴之婿，亦义不容辞。
They are good friends, and Liu Bei will certainly respond favorably.
Beside, since Liu Bei and our lord are now connected by marriage, there is no risk of refusal.
玄德大喜，即时作书，遣一心腹人，径往西凉州投下。
The letter was written, sent by a trusty hand, and duly delivered.
惊惧而觉，心中疑惑，聚帐下将佐，告说梦中之事。
He awoke in a fright and began to wonder what the dream portended.
Failing to explain it, he told the dream to his officers.
帐下一人应声曰：“此梦乃不祥之兆也。”
One of them ventured to say the portent was evil.
莫非老将军在许昌有事否？”
Assuredly our old General is in trouble at the capital."
言未毕，一人踉跄而入，哭拜于地曰：“叔父与弟皆死矣！”
And at that moment one entered in hot haste and cast himself on the earth, weeping and crying, "The Uncle and his sons are dead!"
超视之，乃马岱也。
It was Ma Dai, +the nephew of Ma Teng.
岱曰：“叔父与侍郎黄奎同谋杀操，不幸事泄，皆被斩于市。
And he told the story of the evil: "Uncle Ma Teng and Huang Kui had planned to assassinate Cao Cao, but the plot had miscarried and become known.
二弟亦遇害。
Ma Tie fell in the battlefield,
惟岱扮作客商，星夜走脱。”
Uncle Ma Teng and Ma Xiu were put to death in the market place, and I escaped in disguise."
马孟起兴兵雪恨 曹阿瞒割须弃袍
Ma Chao Launches An Expedition For Revenge;Cao Cao Flees The Field In Disguise.
操问曰：“陈长文有何良策？”
asked Cao Cao of the speaker, who was a civilian in his service.
群曰：“今刘备、孙权结为唇齿，若刘备欲取西川，丞相可命上将提兵，会合淝之众，径取江南，则孙权必求救于刘备；备意在西川，必无心救权；权无救则力乏兵衰，江东之地，必为丞相所得。
Chen Qun replied, "Your two principal enemies---Liu Bei and Sun Quan---are now firm allies, close as lips and teeth.
But Liu Bei wants the West River Land and if you, O Prime Minister, send a mighty host against Sun Quan, Sun Quan must ask help from his friend Liu Bei, who, having his heart set on the west, will refuse it.
Sun Quan without this aid cannot stand and will become so weak that the South Land will be yours for the taking,